Georges Simenon - Un Noël de Maigret
Published in 1951 this little book ends with Simenon signing Carmel by the sea (California) mai 1950 it is not only a beach read, but was probably written on the beach. You would not be in danger of getting sunstroke as this detective story is all finished in under 100 pages. Nevertheless for lovers of Maigret it would not disappoint.

Maigret wakes up on Christmas morning anxious to get out of bed. Looking out of the window of his Paris apartment he sees two ladies come out of the building on the opposite side of the road and head for the concierge of his apartment, he has a feeling that they are going to pay the famous commissaire a visit. He listens to a strange story told by one of the ladies 7 year child that she had been visited by father Christmas and that he had removed a couple of floorboards, so that he could visit the children in the apartment below. Maigret takes the story seriously and after questioning the women is convinced a crime has been committed. He rings up his minions in the JP and has them working overtime to gather information that will help him solve the mystery.

It is a mystery detective story with a Christmas spirit, nobody gets hurt and everybody gets treated to drinks in Maigrets apartment during the festive day that it takes him to solve the crime. Mme Maigret has to cope with many visitors to the apartment as she tries to cook dinner plotting a way to the kitchen so as not to disturb her husband whilst he organises his staff to do the legwork. He does cross the road to talk to the little girl in the apartment opposite, but does not need to go to his office. Good fun and 3 stars. ( )

Maigret becomes — perhaps unreasonably — suspicious when the little girl across the street reports seeing a strange man in a red suit and white beard in her room on Christmas night.

Simenon and his family had obviously been in America long enough by Christmas 1951 to take it for granted that all children would believe in Santa Claus, but not long enough to realise that the rules of the genre don’t allow writers to put the jovial chimney-climber under suspicion of serious violent crimes. But this is an entertaining story, one of those where the Commissaire is able to solve the whole thing from the comfort of his own living room with the help of a few phone calls, taking advantage of Mme Maigret’s sharp observation of her neighbours. ( )

Enjoyed this. These stories are dated by sexism and racism but was incredibly fascinating reading the setting and period details. I'm guessing this was "modern" at the time but now reads as unique historical fiction. Example: there is a cozy neighborhood restaurant that SAVES THE NAPKINS OF ITS REGULAR CUSTOMERS. So gross and also so wonderful. I wanted to know so much more about this!!!! So many similar details about life in France (the police boxes! And how they work!) So cool. And I really enjoyed this author's writing voice.

i don't really like Maigret. i find him boring and usually the story is too long. ( )

A wonderful read to wind down the Christmas holidays. Maigret is a wonderful character, and the stories have that fabulous film noir aspect to them that have made them true classics of the mystery genre. Recommended ( )